Fords

23rd May 201915th July 2021 By Simon

Words for ford in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*yātus = ford
Old Irish (Goídelc)	áth = ford
Irish (Gaeilge)	áth = ford; spawning bed (in river); opening
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	àth [aːh] = ford
Manx (Gaelg)	aah = ford, drift

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *yeh₂- (to ride, travel) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*ɸritus = ford
Gaulish	ritu = ford
Irish (Gaeilge)	rith = ford
Proto-Brythonic	ritum, rrɨd = ford
Old Welsh	rit = ford
MIddle Welsh (Kymraec)	ryd, ryt = ford
Welsh (Cymraeg)	rhyd = ford, strait
Old Cornish	rid = ford
Cornish (Kernewek)	rys [rɪ:z] / res [re:z] = ford
Old Breton	rit = ford
Breton (Brezhoneg)	red = ford

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *pértus/*pr̥téw- (crossing) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Streets

22nd May 201925th March 2024 By Simon

Words for street in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Old Irish (Goídelc)	sráit [sraːdʲ] = street, road
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	sráit [sraːdʲ] = street, road, path, way
Irish (Gaeilge)	sráid [sˠɾˠɑːdʲ / sˠɾˠæːdʲ] = street, level (surfaced) ground around house, village sráidbhaile = village sráideánach = villager, townsman sráidéigeas = street singer sráideoireacht = street-walking, strolling sráidí = street-walker, stroller, idler
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	sràid [sdraːdʲ] = street, lane sràideachd [sdraːdʲəxg] = (act of) walking the streets, (act of) pacing sràideag [sdraːdʲag] = small lane, skip, leap, short walk, street walker sràideamaich [sdraːdʲəmɪç] = promenade, perambulate, saunter, stroll, lounge sràidimeachd [sdraːdʲɪməxg] = promenading, perambulating, sauntering, strolling, lounging sràidean [sdraːdʲan] = little street sràidearachd [sdraːdʲərəxg] = (act of) sauntering, promenading
Manx (Gaelg)	straid = street, farmyard, thoroughfare straaid = street
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	stryd, ystryd, ystryt = street, (main) road, highway
Welsh (Cymraeg)	(y)stryd, (y)strŷt = street, (main) road, highway strydgall = streetwise stryd fawr = high street, main street stryd unffordd = one-way street
Cornish (Kernewek)	stret [strɛ:t / stre:t] = street stret unfordh = one-way street stretwikor, stretwikores = street-trader stretyn = alley, little street
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	strehet = alley, lane, road
Breton (Brezhoneg)	straed [ˈstrɛːt] = alley, lane, road narrow path, throat straed-dall = cul-de-sac

Etymology: from the Old Norse stræti (street) or the Old English strǣt (road, street), from the Proto-Germanic *strātō (street), both of which come from the Late Latin strāta (a paved road), from strātus (stretched out, spread out), from Proto-Italic *strātos, from PIE *str̥h₃tós (stretched, spread) [source].

From the same roots we get words such as stratum, stratus (cloud), and strategy in English, estrato (layer, stratum) in Spanish, στρατός [stɾaˈtos] (army) in Greek, and words for (flat) valley in Celtic languages, such as srath in Irish and Scottish Gaelic, and ystrad in Welsh [source].

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

Mountains

21st May 201913th March 2024 By Simon

Words for mountain and related words in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*slēbos = mountain, slope
Old Irish (Goídelc)	sliab [sʲl͈ʲiːa̯v] = mountain, mountain range; moor
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	sliab = mountain, mountain range, moor, moorland
Irish (Gaeilge)	sliabh [ʃlʲiəvˠ / ʃl̠ʲiəvˠ / ʃl̠ʲiəw] = mountain, moor, moorland sliabhraon = mountain range sléibhteánach = mountain dweller sléibhteoir = mountaineer sléibhteoireacht = mountaineering sléibhtiúil = mountainous, hilly,moorish sléibhtiúlacht = hilliness
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	sliabh [ʃl̪ʲiəv] = hillside, slope, mountain sliabh-mònach = peat moor sliabhach, slèibhteach = mountainous sliabhair [ʃl̪ʲiəvɛrʲ] = mountaineer slèibhteag [ʃl̪ʲeːvdʲag] = small hillside/slope, small mountain
Manx (Gaelg)	slieau [slʲuː / ʃlʲuː] = mountain, fell, hillside, moor, berg

Etymology: possibly from PIE *sley-bʰo- from *sley- (to smear), or from PIE *slewb(ʰ)- (to slip, glide) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*moniyos = mountain
Pictish	monid = mountain
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	moned, monad = mountain
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	monadh [mɔnəɣ] = mountain (covered with moors), high-lying moorland; expanse of heather
Manx (Gaelg)	muyne = mountain
Proto-Brythonic	*mönɨð = mountain
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	minid, menyd, mynyd, mynyth [ˈmənɨð] = mountain mynyddig, mynyddic = mountainous, hilly, highland, wild, rustic
Welsh (Cymraeg)	mynydd [ˈmənɨ̞ð / ˈmənɪð] = mountain, (large) hill, large pile, great amount; common, unenclosed land, mountain land, moorland; agricultural land; plain mynydda = to climb mountains, go mountain walking, plough and harrow mynyddaidd = mountainous, like a mountain mynyddbarth = mountainous region mynyddig = mountainous, hilly, highland, wild, rustic mynyddigion = inhabitants of the mountains mynyddwr = mountain dweller, highlander, mountaineer
Old Cornish	menit = mountain
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	menedh, menydh, mynydh = mountain
Cornish (Kernewek)	menydh, menedh [‘mɛnɪð] = mountain, hill, uphill menydh rew / menydh yey = iceberg
Old Breton	monid = mountain
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	menez, = mount, mountain
Breton (Brezhoneg)	menez = mount, mountain menezeg = mountainous meneziad = mountaineer menezus = mountainous

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *men- (to tower, stand out) [source], which is also the root of English words such as mount, mountain, prominent and eminent [source].

See the post about Peaks for other mountain-related words, such as beann in Irish and Scottish Gaelic.

Hills

12th May 201928th October 2023 By Simon

Words for hill and related words in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*ardwos = high
Gaulish	Arduenna = place name
Old Irish (Goídelc)	ard [ar͈d] = high, height
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	ard, árd = high above ground, elevated, lofty, tall, noble, great, proud, arduous, high place, height ardach = hilly ardae, airde = height, high place, nobility, loudness ardaid = to rise ardaigid = to raise, magnify, exalt ardán = pride, arrogance ardri = high king
Irish (Gaeilge)	ard [ɑːɾˠd̪ˠ/æːɾˠd̪ˠ] = height, hillock, top, high part, elevation, head, rise, ascent ardaigh = to raise, elevate, ascend, carry ardaitheoir = lift, elevator na farraigí arda = the high seas sála arda = high heels Ard-Aifreann = High Mass Ard-Aighne = Attorney-General ardaingeal = archangel
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	àrd [aːr̪ˠd] = high, lofy, tall, great, loud, chief, eminent, superior, supreme àrd-bheinn = pinnacle
Manx (Gaelg)	ard [ø(r)d] = high, towering, tall, big, loud, height, high place, fell, incline
Proto-Brythonic	*arð = high
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	ard, art = hill
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ardd [arð/aːrð] = hill, highland, top, high, upland
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	ard = high, lofty
Cornish (Kernewek)	ardh = height, high place
Breton (Brezhoneg)	arz = high, elevated, lofty

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₃r̥dʰwós, from *h₃erdʰ- (to increase, grow, upright, high) [source], which is also the root of the Latin word arbor (tree) and words for tree in Romance languages [source].

Proto-Celtic	*knokkos = protuberance, hill
Old Irish (Goídelc)	cnocc [knok] = hill, lump, swelling cnoccach [ˈknokax] = hilly, lumpy cnocán [ˈknokaːn] = little lump, mound, hill
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	cnocc = lump, protruberance, hill, mound cnoccach, cnocach = lumpy, hilly cnoccán, cnocán = little lump, mound, hill
Irish (Gaeilge)	cnoc [kn̪ˠɔk / kn̪ˠʊk/ kɾˠʊk] = hill, mount cnocach = hilly cnocadóir = hillman, hillclimber cnocadóireacht = hill-climbing cnocán = hillock, heap cnocánach = hilly, uneven
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cnoc [krɔ̃xg] = hill, small hill, hillock, knoll, chilblain cnocach [krɔ̃xgəx] = hilly, rugged, abrupt cnocaireachd [krɔ̃xgɛrʲəxg] = rough hill walking, pacing cnocan [krɔ̃xgan] = hillock, ball of fibre
Manx (Gaelg)	cronk = mount, tor, hill, crongan = mound, small hill, tuffet, tumulus, hillock cronkan = knoll, small hill, hillock
Proto-Brythonic	*knox = hill, mound
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	cnwch = swelling, protuberance, thickness, hump
Welsh (Cymraeg)	cnwc = hillock, knoll; swelling, tumour, lump, knob, hump cnocell = hillock, knoll
Old Breton	cnoch = hill
Middle Breton	qnech, knech, crech, cre(a)c’h = high, height, mountain, hill krec’hennek full of hills krec’hiek = steep, sloping, incluned
Breton (Brezhoneg)	krec’h = height, eminence, mound

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *kneg- (back of the head, nape, neck). The English word neck, and related words in other Germanic languages, come from the same root [source].

Proto-Celtic	*brusnyos = hill
Old Irish (Goídelc)	bruinne = breast(s), bosom, chest; womb
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	bruinne, bruinde = breast, bosom, chest
Irish (Gaeilge)	broinne = breast, bosom; brink, verge
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	broinne [brɤin̪ʲ] = belly, stomach; womb; bulge
Manx (Gaelg)	brein = womb
Proto-Brythonic	*bronnā = breast
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	bronn, bron = breast, bosom
Welsh (Cymraeg)	bron [brɔn] = breast, bosom, thorax, hill-side, slope, breast (of hill) bronallt, broniallt = gentle slope of hill, rising ground, wooded slope bryn = hill, mount, rise, bank; heap, mound; prominence, highness
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	bron = a round protuberance, breast, pap, slope of a hill
Cornish (Kernewek)	bronn / brodn [brɔn: / brɔdn] = breast, hill
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	bron, bronn = breast, bossom, udder bronnañ, bronnat, bronniñ = to breast feed
Breton (Brezhoneg)	bronn [ˈbrɔ̃n] = breast

Etymology: from Proto-Celtic *brusū (belly, abdomen, breast), possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰrews- (belly, to swell) [source].

Words from the same Proto-Celtic root, via the Proto-West-Germanic *brunnjā (chainmail shirt), include: brynja (coat of mail) in Icelandic, Swedish and Faroese, brynje (mail, armour) in Danish, brynje (coat of armour, protective clothing for motorcyclists) in Norwegian, and броня [brɔˈnʲa] (armour, armoured vehicle, shell) in Ukrainian [source].

The English words breast, brisket and bruise come from the same PIE root, as do borst (chest, thorax, breast) in Dutch, Brust (chest, breast, bosom) in German, and bröst (breast, chest, thorax) in Swedish [source].

Proto-Celtic	brixs / brig- = hill
Gaulish	*brignā, -brigā = hill
Old Irish (Goídelc)	brí [bʲrʲiː] = hill
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	brí, bri = hill
Irish (Gaeilge)	brí = brae, hill
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bre = hill, headland
Proto-Brythonic	*breɣ [ˈbrɛːɣ] = hill
Welsh (Cymraeg)	bre = hill, hillock, mountain, hill-country, upland, peak
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	bre = mountain, hill
Cornish (Kernewek)	bre [brɛ: / bre:] = hill – appears as Bray or Brae in placenames
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	bre = hill
Breton (Brezhoneg)	bre = hill, mountain

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *bʰerǵʰ- (high) [source].

The Spanish word breña (scrub, brush, rough ground), the Portuguese word brenha (scrub, complication, confusion) come from the Gaulish *brignā, via the Vulgar Latin *brigna (rocky terrain) [source].

From the same PIE root we get the English words burrow and borough, and words in placenames such as burg, burgh and bury, and also the German Burg (castle), the Danish borg (castle, stronghold), and related words in other Germanic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*krowko- = heap
Old Irish (Goídelc)	crúach = stack, mountain, hill
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	crúach,cruach = stack of corn, rick, heap, conical pile crúachad = act of stacking, piling up crúachán = small rick, hill crúachda = swollen, piled up
Irish (Gaeilge)	cruach [kɾˠuəx] = stack, rick, pile, (mountain) stack cruachach = full of stacks cruachadóir = stack-builder cruachadóireacht = (act of) building stacks cruachán = (small) stack; person of stunned growth cruachóg = heap
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	cruach [kruəx] = pile, stack; round hill; clamp (stack) cho seasgair ri luchag ann an cruach = as snug as a bug in a rug (“as snug as a mouse in a haystack”) cruach-fheòir = haystack cruach-mhòna, cruach mònach = peat-stack cruach-sheangan = anthill
Manx (Gaelg)	creagh = stack, furrow creagh fendeilagh = barricade creagh hraagh = haystack
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	krug, gruc, grvg = hillock
Welsh (Cymraeg)	crug = hillock, knoll, cairn, tumulus, heap, mass, stack, group, company, multitude; pustule, abscess, boil, carbuncle
Old Cornish	cruc = hillock
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	cruc, cruk, crŷc = hillock, mound, barrow
Cornish (Kernewek)	krug = mound, tumulus
Old Breton	cruc = hillock
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	krug = pile, heap krugell = pile, heap, hillock, mound, tumulus
Breton (Brezhoneg)	krug = mound krugell = hillock, tumulus

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *krā(u)- (to heap up) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*tumbo- = excrescence hill
Old Irish (Goídelc)	tom = bush, tuft, hillock, knoll
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	tom = bush, tuft, hillock, knoll
Irish (Gaeilge)	tom [t̪ˠɑumˠ/t̪ˠʌmˠ] = bush, shrub tomach = bushy, tufted tomachán = small tuft
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	tom [tɔum] = hillock, knoll, mound, clump, heap, tuft toman [toman] = small hillock tomag [tomag] = small hillock/knoll/mound, small clump, small heap
Manx (Gaelg)	tom = tussock
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	tom, tomm = dung(hill), manure, compost, dirt, muck
Welsh (Cymraeg)	tom = dung(hill), manure, compost, dirt, muck, mud, mound, heap

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *tewh₂- (to swell), and cognate with the English word tumulus.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Streams and Currents

5th May 20192nd March 2024 By Simon

Words for stream, current and related things in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*srutom = stream, river; flow, current
Gaulish	srut(u)a = torrent, stream, watercourse
Old Irish (Goídelc)	sruth [sruθ] = stream, river, current; strait
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	sruth = stream, river, current, torrent, strait
Irish (Gaeilge)	sruth [sˠɾˠʊ(h)] = stream, current, flow sruthach = streaming, flowing, full of streams sruthaigh = to stream, flow sruthaire = stroller, vagabond, unbidden guest sruthaireacht = (act of) roaming, vagabondage, (act of) scrounging sruthán = (small) stream, rivulet, brook, gush, flow sruthánach = abounding in streams, streaming sruthlán = streamlet, rill
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	sruth [sdruh] = stream, current sruthlag [sdrul̪ˠag] = runnel, streamlet sruthan [sdruhdan] = long stream of words, long-winded talk sruthach [sruhəɣ] = flowing, streaming, flow sruthan [sdruhan] = brook, streamlet sruthadair [sdruhədɪrʲ] = streamer
Manx (Gaelg)	stroo [struː] = current, stream, race, watercourse, tide-race, tidal flow strooan = brook, creek, river, rivulet, stream, waterway strooaney = flowing, streamed strooanagh = full of streams, streaming
Proto-Brythonic	*frud = stream, river; flow, current
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	frut, ffrwt, ffryt = swift stream, torrent, flood, current
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ffrwd [fruːd] = swift stream, torrent, flood, current ffrwdel = leaves and branches piled together in a flooded river ffrwd fâl, ffrwd y felin = mill-stream ffryd(i)af, ffrydio, ffrydu = to flow, stream, gush, purl, shed ffrydiedig = flowing, shed ffrydiog = streaming, flowing ffrydiol = flowing, streaming, gushing, fluid ffrydiolrwydd = fluidity ffrydlif, ffrwdlif = stream, streaming flood, torrent, current, tide
Old Cornish	frot = stream
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	frot = strait, channel
Cornish (Kernewek)	fros = current, flow fros tredan = electric current frosa = to flow
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	frud, frut = torrent, stream
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	froud = torrent, stream/td>
Breton (Brezhoneg)	froud [fruːt] = torrent, stream

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *srew- (to flow, stream). Words from the same PIE root include rheum, rhythm and stream in English, and Strom (large river, stream, current) in German [source].

Proto-Celtic	*nantos / nantus = stream, valley
Proto-Brythonic	*nant [ˈnant] = stream, river, valley
Gaulish	*nanto = valley
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	nant [ˈnant] = river, stream, brook
Welsh (Cymraeg)	nant [ˈnant] = river, stream, brook, rivulet; torrent, ditch, valley, glen, dale; ravine, gorge nentig, nennig = small stream
Old Cornish	nans = stream
Cornish (Kernewek)	nans [nans / nænz] = dale, valley
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	nant = valley
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	nant, ant = valley
Breton (Brezhoneg)	(n)ant [(n)ãnt] = valley with watercourses (archaic, used in place names)

Etymology: possibly from Proto-Celtic *nemetom (sacred place, sanctuary), from the Proto-Indo-European *nem- (to give, take, distribute) [source].

The Francoprovençal word nant (stream) comes from the same Proto-Celtic roots [source], as does the French place name Nanterre [source], the Irish word neimheadh (sanctuary, privilege of rank, holy thing), and the Breton word neved / neñved (sanctuary) [source].

Words from the same PIE root include numb, number in English. nemen (to take, grasp, grab) in Dutch, nehmen (to take, hold, grasp) in German, nimh (poison, venom) in Irish and Scottish Gaelic [source].

Irish (Gaeilge)	fobhar = well, stream
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	guuer, gouer, gofer = stream gouerei, goferu, goveru = to derive, emanate, gush, stream, run, cause to flow, pour
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gofer = overflow of a well, stream, effluence, duct, stream, brook, rill, rivulet goferaf, goferu = to derive, emanate, gush, stream, run, cause to flow, pour goferllyd = oozy, marshy
Old Cornish	guuer = brook, stream
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	gover = brook, stream
Cornish (Kernewek)	gover = brook, stream
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	gouher = stream
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	gouuer, gouer, gouvea = stream
Breton (Brezhoneg)	gou(v)er [ˈɡuː(v)ɛr] = stream, streamlet gouverian, gouveriañ = to irrigate

Etymology: unknown [source].

Proto-Celtic	wētā, wēttā = swamp, stream
Old Irish (Goídelc)	féith [fʲeːθʲ] = vein, sinew, kidney
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	féith, feith = kidney, fibre, sinew, vein, artery, vessel féithech = sinewy, veined
Irish (Gaeilge)	féith [fʲeː(h)] = sinew, muscle, vein, soft seam in bogland, vine féitheach = sinewy, muscular, veined, ribbed, swampy féitheog = (small) sinew, muscle, vein féitheogach = sinewy, muscular, brawny
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	fèith [feh] = muscle, sinew, vein, stagnant channel in a bog (often overgrown with moss and dry in summer) fèith-dhìreach = gullet, oesophagus fèith-lùthaidh = sinew, tendon fèitheach [fɛː.əx] = muscled, muscly, sinewy, veiny fèitheag [fɛː.ag] = small muscle, sinew or vein
Manx (Gaelg)	feh = nerve, sinew, tendon fehagh = sinewy
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	guyth, gwyth, gỽyth = vein, sinew, nerve, stream gúithén, gwythen = vein, blood-vessel, artery, muscle gwythiennawc, gwythennoc = veined, full of veins, venous, striated
Welsh (Cymraeg)	gŵyth [ɡuːɨ̯θ/ɡʊi̯θ] = vein, sinew, nerve, stream, brook, ditch, gutter, drain, channel, firth, estuary gwythennus = full of veins, veined, veiny gwythïen, gwythen = vein, blood-vessel, artery, muscle, siney, (harp) string gwyth(i)ennog = veined, full of veins, venous, striated
Old Cornish	guid = channel, pipeline, vein
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	gwyth, goth = channel, pipeline, vein
Cornish (Kernewek)	gooth = channel, pipeline, vein
Old Breton (Brethonoc)	goed, guoeth = stream
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	goazz, goaz, gouaz = stream
Breton (Brezhoneg)	gwazh [ɡwaːs] = stream, canal, channel, washhouse, marshy meadow gwazheg = watered, marshy gwazhell = watered land gwazhenn = vein gwazhian, gwazhiañ = to dig a stream, to make a bed, to water gwazhiennek = veined

Etymology: possibly from the Proto-Indo-European *weyh₁- (to whither), which is also the root of výsti (whither) in Lithuanian, and vissna (to wilt, whither) in Swedish [source].

Roads

1st May 201922nd March 2024 By Simon

Words for roads in Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Proto-Celtic	*bow-itros = road (“cow path”)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	bóthar = road, lane, track
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	bóthar, báthar, bothor, bothar = track, road
Irish (Gaeilge)	bóthar [ˈbˠoːhəɾˠ / ˈbˠoːɾˠ / ˈbˠɔhəɾˠ] = road, way, manner taobh-bhóthar = side-road bóthar mór = main road bóthar iarainn = railroad, railway bóthar trasna = cross-road bóithreoir = road-walker, traveller, vagrant bóithreoireacht = (act of) walking, travelling the road, vagrancy bóithrín = country lane, boreen
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	bòthar [boː.ər] = alley, lane
Manx (Gaelg)	bayr = lane, (country) road, roadway, pad, drive, avenue, thoroughfare beyr = lane bayr mooar = highroad bayr gleashtanagh = motorway bayr fo-halloo = subway
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	beu der, benedyr = cattle track
Welsh (Cymraeg)	beudr = cattle track
Old Cornish	bouder = lane
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	bounder = feeding ground, pasture, common, lane bounder tre = village
Cornish (Kernewek)	bownder [‘bɔʊndɛr / ‘bɔʊndɐr] = farm lane, lane

Etymology: from Proto-Celtic *bāus (cow) and *itos (path [?]), from PIE *gʷṓws (cattle) and *h₁itós (passable) [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	rót [r͈oːd] = road, highway
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	rót = road, highway
Irish (Gaeilge)	ród [ɾˠoːd̪ˠ / ɾˠɔːd̪ˠ] = road, roadstead, route, anchorage, mooring ródaí wayfarerm rover, road guide ródaíocht = wayfaring, travelling, wandering from house to house tale-bearing, riding at anchor ródán = little road, path
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	rathad [r̪ˠa.ad] = road, way, route, path, track rathad-iarainn = road, way, route rathad goirid = shortcut rathad-mòr = highway, major road, highroad rathadach [r̪ˠa.ədəx] = pertaining to or abounding in roads, ingenious, capable, go-ahead, enterprising rathad-beag = minor road rathad aon-slighe = one-way road
Manx (Gaelg)	raad [reːd̪ / raːd̪] = road, track, route, direction, roadway, trail, way; vent, vent-hole raad elley = elsewhere raad ennagh = somewhere raad erbee = any place, anywhere raad mooar = highway, main road, major road raad shaghnee = by-pass raad ushtey = waterway raad yiarn = railway (line)
Welsh (Cymraeg)	rhawd = course, way, path, journey, career, period
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	rout = route, trace, itinerary
Breton (Brezhoneg)	roud = route, trace, itinerary roudenn = line, ray, stripe rouder = road roudoureg = to ford (a river)

Etymology: possibly from Middle English rode (riding, ride, voyage), from Old English rād (riding, hostile incursion), from Proto-West Germanic *raidu (riding, ride), from Proto-Germanic *raidō (a ride), from PIE *reydʰ- (to ride). Words from the same roots include road and raid in English.

Alternatively, the Goidelic words come from Old Irish rout, from ro-ṡét, from ro- (very, great) and sét (path), from Proto-Celtic *φro-sentu- [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	forás = growth, increase
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	forás, foras = growth, increase
Irish (Gaeilge)	forás = growth, development, progess
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	foraimh [r̪ˠa.ad] = journey, excessiveness (archaic) foras [fɔrəs] = growth, increase, (river) ford
Proto-Brythonic	forð [forð] = road, path, way, mannerh
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	ford, fort, fordh, forth = road, way, street, path yforthaul, ffordawl = traveller wayfarer, passer-by
Welsh (Cymraeg)	ffordd = road, way, street, path, passage, course, route, journey fforddiadol = acquianted with the road ffordd(i)af, fforddi(o) = to make a way, instruct, direct, guide, travel fforddol(yn) = traveller wayfarer, passer-by, road-mender fforddolaf, fforddoli = to journey, traverse, guide, direct, train fforddoliaeth = direction, instruction ffordd(i)wr = guide, instructor, wayfarer cyffordd = junction croesffordd = crossroads rheilffordd = railway\
Old Cornish	ford = way, road, manner
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	fordh, ford = way, road, passage
Cornish (Kernewek)	fordh [fɔrð] = way, road, manner fordh a-dro = roundabout fordh dhall = cul-de-sac, dead end fordh dhibarth = junction fordh veur = highway fordh dremen
Breton (Brezhoneg)	forzh = vagina

Etymology: from the Old English ford (ford) [source], from the Proto-West Germanic *furdu (ford), from Proto-Germanic *furduz (ford), from the Proto-Indo-European *pr̥téw-/*pértus (crossing) [source]. Words for ford in the Brythonic languages come from the same PIE root.

Rivers & Stars

26th April 20196th January 2024 By Simon

Words for rivers & stars in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	abonā / abū = river *abonko- = beaver
Gaulish	ambe = river
Old Irish (Goídelc)	ab [au̯v] = river
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	ab = river
Irish (Gaeilge)	abhainn [əunʲ / əun̠ʲ / oːn̠ʲ] = river craobh-abhainn = affluent, tributary tréig-abhainn = distributary
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	abhainn [a.ɪn̪ʲ] = river, stream abhainneach = fluvial, pertaining to or abounding in rivers abhainn-deighe = river of ice, glacier capall-aibhne = hippopotamus con-abhainn = confluence leas-abhainn = tributary tur-abhainn = seasonally dry river
Manx (Gaelg)	awin [aunʲ / ˈawənʲ] = river awiney = freshwater, riverside; of a river broogh awin = river bank, riverside beeal/cass awin = estuary, river mouth crouw-awin = confluence
Proto-Brythonic	*aβon [aˈβoːn] = river
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	afon, avon, auon = river
Welsh (Cymraeg)	afon [ˈaːvɔn / ˈavɔn] = river, stream, brook afonfarch = hippopotamus afonig = rivulet, stream, book afonog = having (many) rivers or streams; fluvial
Old Cornish	auon = river
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	avon = river
Cornish (Kernewek)	avon, awon [ˈavɔn] = river
Middle Breton	aven, avon = river
Breton (Brezhoneg)	aven [ˈɑː.ven] = river

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep-h₃ōn-, from *h₂ep- (water, body of water) [source]. The names of the river Avon in England and the river A’an (Avon) in Scotland were borrowed from Proto-Brythonic [source].

Words from the same PIE roots include aven (sinkhole, pot hole) in French, avenc (chasm, gulf sinkhole) in Catalan, abeneiro (black alder tree) in Galician, amieiro (alder) in Portuguese, अप् (ap – water, Virgo) in Sanskrit, and possibly words for ape in English and other Germanic languages [source].

Proto-Celtic	*rēnos = river, waterway
Gaulish	Rēnos = River Rhein (?)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	rían [r͈ʲiːa̯n] = sea, ocean, path, course, way, manner
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	rían = sea, ocean (poetic/archaic); course, route, path, way, manner, state
Irish (Gaeilge)	rian = course, path, mark, trace, track, vigour rianach = having tracks, paths rianaí = wayfarer, wanderer, tracker, tracer, genealogist rianaigh = to mark out, trace, indent, chart, track rianaíocht = wayfaring, wandering comhrian = corresponding course, contour trasrian
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	rian [r̪ʲian] = method, mode, system, arrangement, control, management, order, sense rianachd = administration rianadair = arranger, controller, governor rianail = orderly, methodical rianaire = administrator co-rian = system mì-rian = confusion, disorder
Manx (Gaelg)	rane = stanza, track, verse

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₃reyH-nós, from *h₃reyH- (to flow, stream) [source]. Names for the river Rhine in many languages come from the same roots, via the Latin Rhēnus and Gaulish [source]

Proto-Celtic	*sterā = star
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	ser = star
Proto-Brythonic	*ster = stars
Welsh (Cymraeg)	sêr [seːr] = stars
Cornish (Kernewek)	ster = stars
Breton (Brezhoneg)	ster [ˈsteːr] = stars, river

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂stḗr (star), from **h₂eh₁s- (to burn) [source]. It’s possible that the Breton word for ster comes from two different roots, and the river one is not cognate with words for star in other Celtic languages.

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

Land, Parishes & Enclosures

23rd April 201926th July 2023 By Simon

Words for land, parish, enclosure in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*landā = (open) land
Gaulish	landa = land
Old Irish (Goídelc)	land, lann = building, house, land, plot, plate
Middle Irish (Gaoidhealg)	land, lann = building, house, land, plot, plate íarlann = pantry ithlann, ithla = threshing floor, barn, granary, storehouse; garden, orchard
Irish (Gaeilge)	lann = land, ground, plot, house, building (especially a church) bialann = canteen, restaurant leabharlann = library longlann = dockyard réadlann = observatory saotharlann = laboratory
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	lann [l̪ˠaun̪ˠ ~ l̪ˠan̪ˠən] = enclosure, enclosed area, precinct; repository; house, church amharc-lann = observatory biadh-lann = canteen, dinning hall, refectory broc-lann = badger’s den, sett long-lann = dockyard fasg-lann = shelter lann-eaglaise = church precinct leabhar-lann = library obair-lann = laboratory suin-lann = dormitory ur-lann = esplanade, green
Manx (Gaelg)	lann = enclosure, habitation lhonglann = dockyard lioarlann = library seyrlann = laboratory reayrtlann = observatory
Proto-Brythonic	*llann [ˈl͈anː] = land, area, plot, sacred place, churchyard
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	lánn, lann, lan, llann = land
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llan [ɬan] = (parish) church, monastery, heaven, churchyard llan gadeiriol = cathedral llan (y) gwyryfon = nunnery llan y plwyf = parish chuch llandref = village, small town, church village llandy = parsonnage, glebe-house llangeidwad = churchwarden llanaidd = glade-like, open, clear; ecclesiastical, (of a) church
Cornish (Kernewek)	lann [lan:] = yard lannergh = glade
Middle Breton (Brezonec)	lann = moor, heath, moorland lanneg, lannek, lannell = land covered with moor landonenn = swath lann = monastery, church
Breton (Brezhoneg)	lann = moor, heath, moorland lanneg = land covered with moor

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *lendʰ- (land, heath) [source].

Words from the same Proto-Celtic root, via Gaulish and Latin, include lande (moor, moorland, heath) in French, landa (a (sandy) plain) in Spanish, landa (country, field, piece of land) in Basque [source].

The (archaic) English word laund [lɔːnd] (a grassy plain or pasture, especially surround by woodland; a glade) possibly comes from the same Proto-Celtic root, via Middle English, Old French and Gaulish, or from the Proto-Germanic *landą (land), which comes from the same PIE root [Source].

Words from the same PIE roots include land and lawn in English, land (land, country) in Dutch, Land (country, state, province, land) in German, land (land, country, nation, state, ground, earth) in Swedish, land (country, land) in Danish, lado (uncultivated, wild land) in Czech, and ледина [ˈlɛdina] (untilled land) in Macedonian [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Gerlyvyr Cernewec, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

Dry land

22nd April 201923rd April 2019 By Simon

Words for dry land in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*tīros = dry land
Old Irish (Goídelc)	tír = land, country, territory, ground
Irish (Gaeilge)	tír [tʲiːɾʲ] = land, country, state, nation; region, district, territory
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	tìr [tʲiːrʲ] = land, country, territory
Manx (Gaelg)	çheer = country, state, shore, home, land, territory
Proto-Brythonic	*tir [ˈtiːr] = land
Old Welsh	tir = land
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	tir = land
Welsh (Cymraeg)	tir [tiːr] = land, ground, soil, turf; estate, landed property; open land, expanse of country, region, territory, domain, country, (the) earth; ridge
Old Cornish	tir = land
Cornish (Kernewek)	tir [ti:r] = land
Old Breton	tir = land
Breton (Brezhoneg)	tir = land

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *ters- (dry), which is also the root of the Latin terra (dry land) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, teanglann.ie, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Dictionnaire Favereau

Families and Households

21st April 20195th August 2022 By Simon

Words for family, tribe, household and related things in Celtic languages.

Proto-Celtic	*wenyā = family, kindred
Leptonic	𐌅𐌄𐌍𐌉𐌀 (venia)
Old Irish (Goídelc)	fine [ˈfʲinʲe] = family, kin, group of people of common descent, clan, tribe, race
Irish (Gaeilge)	fine [ˈfʲɪnʲə] = family group, race, territory of a family group
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	fine [finə] = tribe, clan, kindred, phylum ceann-fine = chieftain, clan chief finneach = clannish, tribal, heathen fineachas = clanship, kindred
Middle Breton	gouen(n) = race
Breton (Brezhoneg)	gouenn = race

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *wenh₁ (to wish, seek, desire, love, win). The name of Vannes, a town in Brittany, comes from the same Proto-Celtic root, via the Latin Veneti [source]

Words from the same PIE root include venom, Venus, wonder, wean and winsome in English, vän (friend) in Swedish, and gwenwyn (poison, venom) in Welsh [source].

Proto-Celtic	tego-slougo- / tegeso-slougo- = family, household
Old Irish (Goídelc)	teglach [ˈtʲeɣlax] = family, household
Irish (Gaeilge)	teaghlach [ˈtʲalˠəx] = household, family, domestic establishment, household troops, retinue teaghlachas = domestic economy, housekeeping, establishment
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	teaghlach [ˈtʲɤːɫ̪ˠəx] = family, household teaghlachail = domestic teaghlachas = domesticity teaghlach ba gréine = the solar system (poetic)
Manx (Gaelg)	thielagh = family, household mooinjer thielagh = household
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	teulu, tuyly = family, tribe, nation, household
Welsh (Cymraeg)	teulu = family, tribe, nation, household; retinue, retainers, entourage, host, crowd, people teuluaeth = household management, housekeeping, husbandry teuluaf, teuluo, teulua = to raise a family, run a household teuluaidd = family, familial, household, domestic teuluedd = familiarity, concord, harmony, peace teulueiddrwydd = hospitality; familiarity teulues = housewife teuluol = family, familial
Old Cornish	teilu = family
Cornish (Kernewek)	teylu [‘tɛɪly / ‘təɪlɪʊ] = family hanow teylu = surname
Breton (Brezhoneg)	tiegezh = household, farm, family

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *tegos (cover, roof) [source] and *slowgʰos / *slowgos (entourage) [source].

Old Irish (Goídelc)	muinter = community, family or household (including servants), folks, followers, attendants
Irish (Gaeilge)	munitir [ˈmˠiːn̠ʲtʲəɾ / ˈmˠɪn̠ʲtʲəɾʲ] = household, community, family; associates, adherents, followers; party, retinue; kinsfolk; folk, people muniteartha = belonging to a household or community, associated, familiar, friendly, related munitearthacht = friendliness
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	muinntir [mɯin̪ʲd̪ʲɪr̪ʲ] = folk, kindred, people; inhabitants muinntireas = service, servitude, residency (of a writer, etc) muinntireach = household servant neach-muinntir = (household) servant bean-mhuinntir = maidservant muinntir taighe = the household, members of the household
Manx (Gaelg)	mooinjer = family, people, tribe, relations, inhabitants, kin, servants, folk, entourage, farmhand mooinjerey = domestic dooinney mooinjerey = cousin, kinsman, kinsfolk, relation mooinjereys = blood relationship, connection, domestic servce, kinship

Etymology: from the Proto-Celtic *moniterā, from *monis (protection, patronage), or possibly from the Latin monastērium (monastry,cell) [source], from the Ancient Greek μοναστήριον (monastḗrion – solitary dwelling, hermit’s cell, monastery) [source].

Proto-Celtic	*luxtus = people, crowd
Old Irish (Goídelc)	lucht [l͈uxt] = occupants, inhabitants, possessors, household comlucht = accomplices, companions
Irish (Gaeilge)	lucht [l̪ˠʊxt̪ˠ / l̪ˠʌxt̪ˠ] = people lucht na mbothán = frequenters of neighbour’s houses lucht an bhurdúin = tale-bearers lucht míghrinn = mischief-makers lucht tréachtais = hangers-on
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	luchd [l̪ˠuxg] = person neach [n̪ʲɛx] = person, people (plural of luchd) neach-dàimheachd = kin, relative neach-eòlais = acquaintance co-neach-dùthcha = fellow compatriot / countryman
Manx (Gaelg)	lught = people, folk lught eaishtagh = listener, audience, house lught thie = family, household, household members colught = body of people, company, firm
Old Welsh	luidt, luith = tribe, lineage, family
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	luith, llwyth = family, tribe, nation, household
Welsh (Cymraeg)	llwyth [ˈɬuːɨ̯θ / ˈɬʊi̯θ] = tribe, people tylwyth = immediate family, household (“house tribe”) Tylwyth Teg = fair folk (elves, fairies)
Old Cornish	leid, luyte = tribe, family
Cornish (Kernewek)	looth = tribe
Old Breton	loit = household, farm, family
Breton (Brezhoneg)	leizh = tribe

Etymology: unknown – possibly from a non-Proto-Indo-European substrate language [source].

Proto-Celtic	toutā [ˈtow.taː] = people, tribe, tribal land toutyos [ˈtow.tjos] = tribesman, tribal citizen
Gaulish	touta, teuta = people, tribe, tribal land
Old Irish (Goídelc)	túath [tuːa̯θ] = tribe, laity, people, tribal territory
Irish (Gaeilge)	tuath [t̪ˠuə] = people tribe, country, territory tuathánach = countryman, rustic, peasant
Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)	tuath [ˈtʲɤːɫ̪ˠəx] = family, household tuathanach = domestic teaghlachas = domesticity teaghlach na gréine = the solar system (poetic)
Manx (Gaelg)	theay = citizens, common people, general public. laity, peasantry, public, populace
Middle Welsh (Kymraec)	tut, tud = people, tribe, nation, family
Welsh (Cymraeg)	tud = people, tribe, nation, family, country, territory, district, region, kingdom, land, earth tudlen = map (of the world) tudliw = ochre
Middle Cornish (Cernewec)	tus = a nation, people, men
Cornish (Kernewek)	tus = men, people, persons tus henavek = elderly
Breton (Brezhoneg)	tud = people, parents, relatives, characters tud-kozh = grand-parents

Etymology: from the Proto-Indo-European *tewtéh₂ (people, tribe) [source].

Words from the same PIE root include Dutch in English, Deutsch (German) in German, todo (all, every, each, everything) in Spanish, þjóð (a people, a nation) in Icelandic, [source].

The name Tudor was borrowed from the Welsh name Tudur, from the Old Welsh name Tutir, from the Proto-Brythonic name *Tʉdür, from the Proto-Celtic name *Toutorīxs, from *toutā (people, tribe) and *rīxs (king) [source].

Words marked with a * are reconstructions.

Sources: Wiktionary, Am Faclair Beag, Online Manx Dictionary, Teanglann.ie, eDIL – Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, In Dúil Bélrai English – Old Irish glossary, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, Gerlyver Kernewek, Gerlyvyr Cernewec, Dictionaire Favereau, TermOfis, Le dictionnaire diachronique du breton, Geriafurch, English – ProtoCeltic WordList (PDF), Etymological Dictionary Of Proto Celtic

Celtiadur

Exploring connections between Celtic languages

Category: English

Fords

Streets

Mountains

Hills

Streams and Currents

Roads

Rivers & Stars

Land, Parishes & Enclosures

Dry land

Families and Households